Torpedo-placer.



No. 637,442. Patented Nov. 2|, |899. F. E. BENNETT.

TORPEDU PLACER.

(Application led Apr. 17, 1899.) (Ilo Nudel.)

NTTED STATES PATENT Einen.

TORPEDO-PLACER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,442, dated November21, 1899. Application filed April 17, 1899. Serial No. 713,402. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, t muy concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND E. BENNETT, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Highlands, in the county of Lake and State ofIndiana, have invented a new and useful Torpedo-Placer, of which thefollowing is a specication.

This invention relates to torpedo-placers which are designed to place atorpedo upon a rail of a track while the train iis in motion.

The object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in themanner of holding the torpedo upon the device, combined with a lockingdevice and a trip therefor, whereby the torpedo may be released anddeposited upon the rail in an easy and effective manner by one of thetrainmen from the rear platform of the train while in motion for thepurpose of preventing rear-end collisions.

With these objects in view the present invention consists in thecombination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinfter more fullydescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device. Fig. 2 isat top plan view thereof, the cover being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview on the line x of Fig. 2 looking toward the rear end of the trainand showing the device in the act of placing a torpedo. Fig. 4 is asectional View on the line y y, Fig. 2, showing the head in lockedposition. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking-head.

Corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters in allthe iigures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a box or casingpreferably circular in shape and adapted to contain and protect the tripmechanism of the device. A removable cover 2 is provided for the top ofthe casing and has an internal circumferentialA iiange 3, adapted toengage the interior periphery of the walls of the casing to preventdisplacement of the cover. Located centrally of the upper face of thecover is a suitable socket 4, in which is adapted to be seated a handle5 of suitable length to position the device upon the track-rail from therear platform of a train. The casing, cover, and handle are all firmlyconnected together by means of a screw-fastening 6, passing upwardlythrough the bottom of the casing, in which the head of the screw iscountersunk to provide a fiat flush under face to the bottom of thecasing.

Opposite torpedo supports or holders 7 are provided near the oppositesides of the casing and pendent from the bottom thereof. Each support ispreferably formed from a single length of heavy wire comprising acentral straight shank 7, having the transverse crankarm 8 at the upperend and the loop 9, formingaiiat head,at the oppositeend ofthe shank.

The loop is disposed in a vertical plane at right angles to that of thecrank-arm and is arranged entirely at one side of the shank, the latterhaving a bend or elbow 10 formed therein. Within the casing, extendingoutward from opposite sides and upwardly from the bottom thereof, is apair of enlargements 11, having a central vertical opening 12 formedtherethrough and a transverse stopshoulder 13 arranged across the top ofthe enlargement and at one side of the opening 12.Y Before the crank-arm8 has been formed the shank of the torpedo-holder is passed upwardlyfrom the exterior of the bottom of the casing through the opening 12into the interior of the casing until the elbow 10 engages the underside of the bottom, when the crank-arm 8 is bent away from theside ofthe casing across the top of the enlargement. Thus the elbow 10 preventsan upward displacement vof the torpedo-holder, the crankarm a downwarddisplacement thereof, and the holder is mounted to turn axially.

To normally lock the torpedo holders against turning, a locking-head 14is provided within the casing and adapted to engage the crank-arms 8 andhold the same against the respective stop-shoulders 13. The head isprovided with oppositely-extending arms 15, having at the ends thereofpendent shoulders 16. The upper outer ends of these shoulders arestraight for a suitable distance, as at 17, and are adapted to engagethe respective crank-arms 8 and lock the same against the stop-shoulders13. Below the straightrportion each shoulder is beveled, as at 18, sothat when the locking-head is raised the crankarms may turn out beneaththe beveled por- IOO tion of the shoulders. The locking-head is providedwith a pendent stem 1f), extending loosely through an enlargement orseat 2O and through the bottom of the easin g, below which it isprovided with a trip-foot 2l. It will be understood that thelocking-head is capable of a vertical movement in order that it may bedisengaged from the crank-arms 8 and is normally seated upon theenlargement or seat 20, whereby the head is normally held in lockedposition. A notch 22 is formed in the edge of the locking-head, next tothe side of the casing, and adapted to engage a rib 23, provided uponthe easing, whereby the head is guided in its movement. The head is heldin its normally-depressed position by means of a leaf-spring 24,connected to the under side of the cover and having its free end bearingupon the head intermediate of its arms. In order that the cover may beproperly positioned and held to engage the spring 2a with thelocking-head, a notch 25 is provided in the iiange 3 of the cover, andthis notch is adapted to engage the rib 23 on the side of the casing.

The torpedo, which is adapted to be held by the holders 7, is in theshape of a disk 26, having a bowed or substantially U-shaped spring 27connected intermediate of its ends to the under face of the torpedo. Thelatter is placed against the under side of the bottom of the casing, andthe arms of the spring are spread apart and engaged against the outersides of the respective heads il of the holders 7 In the operation ofthe device, the parts beingassembled, as hereiubefore described, and thetrain in motion, the device is lowered to one of the rails of the trael;by means of the handle 5 until the foot 2l of the trip engages the treadof the rail 28, as in Fig. 3. The impact of the foot with the railforces the stem 19 and the locking-head 14 upward and out of engagementwith the cranks S of the torpedo-holders. Thus the holders are released,and the tension of the spring upon the heads of the holders turns thesame inward, whereby the spring is released, and the torpedo will dropupon the rail, to which it will be clamped by the spring embracing thetread of the rail. As soon as the device is elevated the spring 24 willforce the locking-head downward, and the beveled edges of the pendentshoulders 16, engaging the crank-arms S, will turn the latter againstthe respect-ive stop-shoulders 13, whereby the holders are thrown intoposition and locked in readiness for use.

The operating parts of the device are all of substantial form and areinclosed within the casing, thereby being protected againstdisplacement, dirt, and the effects of the weather. The cover may bereadily removed to have access to the interior of the casing forpositioning the parts and as necessity requires.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction Within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casinghaving a handle, of torpedo-holders having lower engaging devicesrotatable in a horizontal plane, a locking-head for the torpedo-holders,and a trip for the head, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a easinghaving a handle, of torpedo-holders having lower engaging devicesrotatable in a horizontal plane, a locking-head having a verticalmovement, and a trip comprising a stem and a foot adapted to engage therail of a track, whereby the locking-head is released to permit movementof the holders, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casinghaving an operating-handle, of opposite torpedo-holders having lowerengaging devices rotatable in a hori- Zontal plane and provided withcrank-arms at their upper ends, a vertically-movable lock:- ing-headhaving opposite portions in normal engagement with the crank-armswhereby the holders are im movably positioned, and a trip for the headcomprising a pendent stem having a foot adapted to be engaged with arail of a track to throw the locking-head out of engagement with thecrank-arms.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casinghaving a, handle, of opposite torpedo-holders pendent from the casing,pivoted axially thereto and provided with crank-arms located within thecasing, stop-shoulders for the crank-arms, a vertically-movablelocking-head normally engaging the crank-arms opposite thestop-shoulders, and a trip for the head, comprising a pendent stern anda foot at the lower end thereof, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casinghaving an operatin g-handle, of opposite torpedo-holders pendent from,axially pivoted to the bottom of the casing, and having crank-armslocated Within the casin g, stop-shoulders for the crank-arms, and avertically-movable locking-head having opposite arms provided withshoulders having a beveled or inclined edge, and a trip thereforcomprising a pendent stem and a foot at the lower end thereof,substantially as shown and described.

IOO

IIO

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6. In a device of the class described, the

crank-arm located within the casing and adapted to work across the topof the respective enlargement, and a .bend or elbow in the shank andworking against the outside of the bottom of the casing, whereby theholders are connected to the casing, a vertically-movable locking-headin normal engagement with the crank-arms, a seat for the head, and atrip for the latter substantially as shown and described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing,having a vertical rib on the inner wall thereofand an operating-handle,of opposite torpedo-holders pivoted to the casing and having lowerengaging devices rotatable in a horizontal plane, a verticallymovablelocking-head having a notch formed therein to engage the rib of thecasing and form a guide for the head, and a trip for the latter.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a torpedohaving a bowed spring, of a casing having an operating-handle, oppositetorpedo-holders pendent from and axially pivoted to the casing, eachholder being formed from a single length of heavy wire, having acrank-arm provided at its npper end and a loop formed at its lower endand offset to one side thereof forming a head, the ends of thetorpedo-spring being adapted to engage the outer faces of the respectiveloops or heads, a locking-head for the cranks of the holders, and a triptherefor, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a box orcasing having a removable cover, a handle fitted to the top of the coverand a fastening passing through the bottom of the box, the cover and thehandle, whereby the latter and the cover are removably secured to thebox, of a torpedoholder, and means for releasing the same, lo-

cated within the box or casing, substantially as shown and described.

IO. In a device of the class described, the combination of a box orcasing having a vertical rib provided upon the inner side wall thereof,a removable cover havinga pendent flange adapted to fit within the boxand provided with a notch adapted to engage the rib and hold the coverin its proper position, torpedo-holders, and means for locking andreleasing the same, located within the box, substantially as shown anddescribed.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a boxor'casin g havinga cover, torpedo-holders, a vertically-movablelocking-head for the holders, a trip for elevating and releasing thehead, and a spring carried by the cover engaging the head and adapted toreturn the same to its normal position, substantially as shown anddescribed.

l2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a box orcasing havinga vertical rib provided upon one of the inner wallsthereof, a cover having a pendent flange provided with a notch adaptedto engage the upper end of the rib and hold the cover in position, atorpedo-holder, a vertically-movable locking-head therefor having anotch adapted to engage the rib and form a guide for the head, a tripfor elevating and releasing the latter, and a spring carried by thecover, engaging the head and adapted to return the same to its normalposition, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND E. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

M OLMsTED, L. S. SARGEANT.

